One of Kiva’s first field partners, Prisma de Honduras, S.A. joined the Kiva family in 2008 in an effort to expand the institution’s funding sources, and to promote the Kiva concept in Honduras. Prisma de Honduras, S.A. is a for-profit institution, a member of the holding company Prisma Microfinance Inc., which is based in Boston, USA.

Prisma Microfinance, Inc. entered Honduras’ microfinance market as a new loan provider in February of 2004. The initiative began as a microfinance program in FINACOOP, a local agricultural cooperative, under an administrative agreement valid until July of 2006. After September of 2006 Prisma began to function as an independent company, aimed at expanding its operations through low cost business and service centers, and under its own organizational structure promoting a strong operational team to achieve its goals. Currently it is in a process of strengthening its operations and foundations.

PRISMA’s primary niche in the marketplace is micro and small entrepreneurs in the commercial, production, and service centers. It also targets individual wage/salary earners. Prisma provides loans for amounts between 5,000 Lps (~US$270) and 200,000 Lps.(~US$10,800); clients who receive loans for under 22,000Lps (~$1200) for commercial use and/or asset acquisition are eligible to be posted on the Kiva website.

PRISMA is a member of the Red de Microfinancieras de Honduras (REDMICROH), a national networking organization that unites member microfinance organizations to promote strong and stable service within the industry in Honduras. In 2008 the national magazine Miroempresas & Microfinanzas recognized Prisma with the “Premio Impulso MicroEmpresarial” for their work in supporting the development of MIPYMEs.

As of September 2011, PRISMA has a total of 17 employees, 8 of whom are loan advisors. They operate out of four offices, serving four departments (Francisco Morazán, El Paraíso, Valle, and Choluteca). Its branches are located in the following cities:

Other Information Sources

Prisma Honduras, S.A.'s Mission Statement

To be an financing alternative, supporting people with limited resources to give them the opportunity to develop their businesses through our credit services.

Why Kiva Works With Prisma Honduras, S.A.

PRISMA Honduras, S. A has been a Kiva partner since 2008. Prisma’s roots can be traced back to work they originally did in financing small agricultural loans at a Honduran cooperative called FINACOOP. Since then they have expanded their operations and are currently servicing clients in several Honduran departments. As a small microfinance institution, Kiva’s funding has been critical to help Prisma continue to grow. Prisma has also recently piloted renewable energy loans, providing solar powered devices to clients that are off the electric grid that will be financed through Kiva. Kiva is proud to be able to provide financing to Prisma during a time that has been turbulent for the Honduran microfinance industry.